As severe snowstorms grip much of the country, outgoing President Joe Biden quietly moved forward with new regulations that will ban most gas-powered tankless water heaters— a move that has sparked concern among homeowners. According to the Biden administration, its push for stricter environmental policies aims to reduce emissions. However, it could leave millions of Americans out in the cold. In addition, the ban could potentially drive up energy costs and limit access to affordable heating solutions during the winter months. Critics argue this decision reflects the administration’s broader agenda of imposing burdensome regulations on everyday Americans while ignoring the practical needs of families facing harsh weather conditions.
The most alarming part of the whole thing is that the Biden Department of Energy (DOE), which traditionally issues press releases for such regulations, chose not to announce the ban publicly. The new regulations are designed to cut carbon dioxide emissions as part of broader climate change efforts. However, the rules are set to eliminate at least 40 percent of existing tankless water heater models—gas and electric—by 2029, potentially pushing consumers toward costlier or less efficient alternatives. The DOE also mandates that new tankless gas water heaters must rely on 13 percent less energy than the least efficient comparable model already on the market.
Critics are blasting the president’s move as “reckless” and “tone-death” as Americans continue to struggle with the repercussions of Bidenflation. The new regulations are expected to raise the average water heater cost by about $450, likely impacting low-income and senior households dependent on affordable models. However, under the Biden Administration’s newest rules, they won’t be able to purchase them.
Manufacturers of the soon-to-be phased-out models said that most of the equipment they have already invested money into will have to be scrapped.
“Forcing low-income and senior customers to pay far more upfront is particularly concerning. DOE’s decision to go ahead with a flawed final rule is deeply disappointing,” American Gas Association’s chief counsel for energy, Matthew Agen, told the Washington Free Beacon.
President-elect Donald Trump has promised to roll back several of the Biden administration’s “extreme climate agenda.”
